Exhibiting-case



(Hommel.) 4

J. M.GLA1 P.

Exhibiting Case.

Patented Jan. 25,1881.

FIGA.

PATENT GEEICE.

JULIUS M. GLAPP, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EXHIBITING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,934, dated January 25, 1881. Application filed December 1, 1880. (N o model.)

Y To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULIUs M. CLAPP, of Newton, Middlesex county, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Exhibiting-Cases, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to a case for packing and exhibiting goods, and has for its object to so arrange the trays or compartments of the case that when opened all the goods in the different compartments cau be seen at the same time, and that when desired to pack away the goods, as for shipping samples, the said trays will just ill the whole interior of the case, resting one upon another.

In the present embodiment of my invention the trays are arranged in horizontal tiers, filling the whole interior of the case, .each tray being of the same length as the case, when measured from side to side, but being narrower from front to back, so that for most of the tiers it requires morethan one tray to fill the interior space devoted to the said tier.

As herein shown, two trays are placed one in front of the other, to form each tier, except the lowest one, which consists of one tray entimely illing its portion'of the case; and the invention consists, mainly, in making the trays of such size that, when taken in pairs, each corresponding pair will form a tieroccupying the whole interior ofthe case between the top and bottom of the said tier, but the trays, when taken singly, are of diii'erent Widths, so that, when placed one above the other,with th eir rear sides coinciding in position or lying in one vertical plane, the fr'ont side of each will project beyond the one above it, so that it is not wholly covered thereby, but the goods or samples contained in it can be seen in the uncovered space.

As herein shown, the bottom tray forms a whole tier, and is of the maximum width from front to back, while `the next tier is divided unequally into a wide tray, the second in order of width, placed at the rear of the tier, and its complementary one, which is the narrowest of the series. The third 'tier contains a rear tray, which is third in order of width, and its complementary front tray, which is the next wider than the narrow one of the tier below. This division of the tiers is carried out, so that by removing the front tray of the upper tier and placing it above the rear tray thereof it will not overlap it, and by removing the front trays of the tiers below in order and placing each on the one previously removed each will be narrower than the one below it, so as to leave a portion of the lower one uncovered for the display of the goods therein.

By the removal of the front trays the rear trays will be left, forming a similar series, each narrower than the one below it, and the whole will 'assume the appearance of a iiight of steps.

The main inclosing-case, in which the trays containing the differentk samples of goods are to be kept when packed away and the case is closed, andby which the said trays are to be lleld in place when their contents are to be displayed, is divided into a main or base portion, and a cover portion hinged thereto, and adapted, when opened, to rest upon the said base portion. The case, when closed, is reetangular in shape, being formed of top and bottom, front and rear, and end pieces, and in the division into base and cover portion the said top piece is divided longitudinally, and the front portion hinged to the rear, so that when turned back on its hinges the front portion rests upon and, preferably, coincides with the rear portion. This top piece has connected with it a portion of the front and side pieces of the case, the said side pieces being divided by an irregular line into two parts, one belonging with the base and the other to the top portion. This line of division corresponds in general outline to the division between the front and rear trays of the different tiers, and when the top portion is turned back on its hinges and rests on the rear side of the base portion it is of proper shape to receive the said front trays, which may be lifted out, one by one, and placed therein one upon the other, leaving the rear trays in position in the base portion of the case.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case opened and with the trays in position to display their contents; Fig. 2, a sectional view IOO at c, and adapted, when opened, to rest upon the rear part of the base portion a, as shown in Fig. 1. The case, when closed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is of usual rectangular shape, and the trays therein, for containing different varieties of goods, such as laces, threads, &c., are arranged in horizontal tiers. (Shown as four in number.) The lower one of these tiers consists ot a single tray, d, which ills the whole bottom of the box, and the succeeding tiers above are each divided into front and rear trays, ef g ht' j, the rear tray of each tier being narrower than the one below it, and the front tray being of proper width to till the Space left unoccupied by its corresponding rear tray. As herein shown, the hinge c is at the middle of the case, measured from front to back, so that when the cover portion b of the case is turned back, as shown in Fig. 1, its rear face corresponds with that of the base portion a; but it is obvious that this division may be departed from, if desired.

The division-line 2, between the end pieces of the top and bottom portions, a b, is shaped to correspond in general with the line ot' division between the trays when packed away, as shown in Fig. 4, the horizontal portions of the said line corresponding` to the different tiers of trays, and the curved lines connecting the said horizontal portions corresponding to the divisions between the front and rear trays of each tier.

When the case is to be opened for the display of its contents the cover portion b is turned back and the upper front tray, j, lifted out from the base portion of the case and placed in the cover portion thereon. Then the next upper front tray, h, is taken ont and placed upon the one j previously taken out, and afterward the one f is placed upon the one h, and so on for as many tiers of trays as there may be. When arranged in this manner the trays have the appearance of a Hight of steps, an open space being left at the front of each, uncovered by the one above it, and through this open space the goods contained therein may be examined,they being, however,

retained in place by the tray above, which covers the main portion of the tray in question.

As herein shown, the two trays z' j of the upper tier are made of equal width, so that the tray t' is wholly covered by the top of the base portion of the inclosing-case. This may, if desired, be avoided by an unequal division of the upper tier of trays, but it is sometimes desirable to have one tray which normally remains covered in this manner. Its contents may readily be got at by sliding it forward upon the tray below, like a drawer.

A case of this kind is especially convenient for the display of samples where the contents of the case are not to be removed therefrom, as the said contents will be held in place when the trays are arranged for exhibition, and the said trays, when in the case, entirely fill it, so as not to rattle around therein. \Vhen, however, it is desired to use the case for holding articles that are to be removed for closer examination, or other purposes, the difference in width between the trays should be sufcient to allow such removal through the uncovered space at the front of each tray.

I claim- A case for packing and displaying goods, having a base and cover portion, and provided with removable trays arranged in tiers, the said trays being of unequal width, as described, whereby, when arranged in the two portions of the open case one above the other in order of width, the widest at the bottom, a portion of each is left uncovered by the one above it to permit the display of the contents, and when packed in the case the said trays entirely till it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

J ULIUS M. CLAPP.

Witnesses Jos. I. LIVERMORE, BERNICE J. NoYEs. 

